INFORMATIVE SPEECH

Most of us love basking under the sun on a breezy day at the beach. What if I told you that the sun’s scorching ultraviolet rays contribute to the deadliest type of skin cancer? Well, you would be petrified. People do not mind taking that risk but that is because they are unaware of the dangers that melanoma casts upon them. There are three different types of melanoma. “Superficial spreading melanoma is the most common type of melanoma...Acral lentiginous melanoma is the most common form of melanoma found in people of color” (“A Dangerous”). Lastly, nodular melanoma is the most aggressive type of melanoma that is considered to be fatal (“A Dangerous”).
Melanoma is becoming significantly more widespread because the ozone layer in the atmosphere is deteriorating which allows stronger UV rays to reach us. According to The Skin Cancer Foundation, “An estimated 192,310 cases of melanoma will be diagnosed in the U.S. in 2019. Of those, 95,830 cases will be noninvasive and confined to the top layer of skin (in situ). 69,480 cases will be invasive, penetrating into the skin’s second layer” (“A Dangerous”). Moreover, race and ethnicity play a large role in developing skin cancer. They Mayo Clinic states that, “Melanoma can affect people of any skin tone. In people with darker skin tones, melanoma tends to occur on the palms or soles, or under the fingernails or toenails” (“Skin Cancer”). People with darker skin complexions are at a higher risk of being diagnosed with melanoma because it is more difficult to detect it rather than a person with a lighter complexion. Just because you can’t see melanoma does not mean it is not there. 
The outermost layer of skin, the epidermis, is where the majority of skin cancer begins (“Skin Cancer”). There are three main types of cells in this layer which are squamous, basal, and melanocytes cells. Squamous cells are flat cells in the upper (outer) part of the epidermis, which constantly shed as new ones form. Lower in the epidermis are the basal cells; this is referred to as the basal cell layer. These cells split into new cells which take the place of squamous that have been rubbed off the outer layer of the skin (“About”). Additionally, melanocytes are the cells that become melanoma; they normally make a brown and tan pigment called melanin, which gives skin its color. Melanoma does not attack the melanocyte cells, melanocyte cells convert into melanoma. In the article,”About Basal and Squamous Cell Skin Cancer,” the American Cancer Society points out, “Melanin protects the deeper layers of the skin from some of the harmful effects of the sun” (“About”). Melanoma can look like growth or change in an existing mole anywhere on the body (“About”).
In essence, there are five stages of melanoma. In stage 0 melanoma, the tumor is within the top layer of the epidermis. This means that the cancerous cells have not spread deeper into the dermis layer of the skin or have not metastasized. In stage I melanoma, the tumor is localized which means that the tumor can be up to 2mm thick. Next, stage II melanoma is defined by the tumor’s thickness and ulceration; it is also considered a localized tumor. Further, “stage III melanoma is determined by the level of lymph node involvement and ulceration” (“Stages”). Stage IV melanoma is when the tumor has expanded beyond the initial site and has entered the bloodstream, invading different parts of the body. Finally, brain metastases, which is a specific form of Stage IV melanoma, is the most serious stage (“Stages”). According to Elham Vosoughi of the Center for Melanoma Research and Treatment, “melanoma brain metastasis is associated with an extremely poor prognosis, with a median overall survival of 4–5 months.“Brain metastases are common in patients with advanced melanoma and are a frequent cause of death in patients with this disease. Nearly 20% of patients are found to have brain metastasis at the time of diagnosis of metastatic melanoma, and more than 50% develop brain metastasis during the course of the disease” (Vosoughi). This means that patients may not even know they have melanoma until it has metastasized to the brain. 
Although melanoma is a ruthless and unforgiving type of skin cancer, it can be prevented. According to AIM at Melanoma Foundation, “Frequent and intense exposure to UV radiation, either from the sun or from indoor tanning devices, is the major risk factor for melanoma” (“Melanoma Risk”). Being properly protected from the sun’s powerful rays is extremely essential. Staying out of the sun from 10 am- 4 pm and wearing sunscreen with a high SPF is an effective way to stay clear from skin cancer.
Overall, melanoma is a fatal type of skin cancer, and awareness regarding prevention methods needs to grow. The danger of melanoma is prevalent and can affect anyone, given the right circumstances. Medically, melanoma is considered fatal; emotionally, melanoma is considered heartless.